Breast cancer survival rates are as much as 14% higher in some counties than others with the Mid-West, Limerick, and Kerry among the worst in the country. Latest figures show the five-year survival rate for breast cancer nationally is 87.3%. Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín: '[T]here is a 14 percentage point difference in breast cancer survival chances depending on what county in Ireland you come from.' Picture: Brian Lawless/PA“Early detection is vital when it comes to all cancer types and in the case of breast cancer, those diagnosed at Stage 1 have a 99% five-year survival rate compared to 37% at Stage 4. "Aontú has also discovered that there is a 12 percentage differential in breast cancer survival rates when we compare women diagnosed in public hospitals or private hospitals in this country.”

Source: Irish Examiner January 19, 2026 04:10 UTC